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Schumer is calling on the federal government to investigate toxins in school supplies

Anissa Thompson
/
WXXI News
Credit Anissa Thompson / WXXI News
/
WXXI News

Countless parents across New York are purchasing new school supplies for students.

But Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the government to regulate toxic chemicals in school supplies.

Multiple reports by non-profits and consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns that popular back-to-school supplies contained dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.

He says the results of an independent report from US PIRG were alarming.

"PlaySkool Crayons contained asbestos. Expo markers had positive levels of BTEX, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, all harmful. Outdoor kid’s water bottles were found to contain lead."

Schumer is calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency responsible for investigating to make changes.

"You must take immediate steps to protect New York students from potentially harmful chemicals in school supplies. And we need them in place before next year’s school year."

He says they must quickly analyze products and determine if they’re harmful and then tell public promptly

And should they find toxic chemicals, they must move to recall them.

Copyright 2018 WXXI News

Caitlin Whyte
Caitlin joins WXXI after working down the street at Stephens Media Group where, she co hosted a children's radio show, "Saturday Morning CarTunes" on WARM 101.3 and worked as a traffic reporter for various affiliates.